2011 MarsdenLR 2233
HIGH COURT MALAYA, KUALA LUMPUR
SWISS GARDEN INTERNATIONAL VACATION CLUB BERHAD – Appellant
Versus
SWISS MARKETING CORPORATION SDN BHD – Respondent
[Suit No:D6-22-1529-2005]
The appointed accountant's report under Section 24A of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 is final and binding, and courts cannot reverse previous orders unless significant procedural errors are shown.
Headnote:(A) Courts of Judicature Act 1964 - Section 24A - Appeal against trial court’s decision on the admissibility of evidence and the assessment of damages - Application to challenge accountant's report rejected, as report was deemed final and binding - Court held it was unnecessary to provide directives on exemption standards due to accountant's expertise - Court emphasized the role of the appointed accountant as an officer of the court under Section 24A. (Paras 4, 28-30)
(B) Res Judicata - Once a decision is made with a proper process involving a qualified accountant, it cannot be reversed by the court unless substantial procedural flaws are demonstrated. (Paras 30-35)
Facts of the case:
The plaintiff, a licensed timeshare operator, challenged the amount owed to the defendant (RM7,880,426.00) based on a marketing agreement after a decline in sales led to non-payment of fees. The defendant counterclaimed for the fees owed after contract repudiation. Background included challenges related to the fairness of the accountant's report.
Findings of Court:
The judgment upheld the accountant's findings, affirming the method employed for assessing marketing fees as reasonable and appropriate, confirming the sum due to be paid to the defendant.
Issues: The main issues encompassed whether the plaintiff was permitted to contest the findings of the accountant’s report and if the court could overturn a prior judgment regarding the accountant's conclusions.
Ratio Decidendi: The court maintained that the report from the appointed accountant was authoritative and binding as per section 24A, and further evidence to challenge this report was unnecessary unless clear procedural impropriety was demonstrated.
Result: Plaintiff's application rejected; plaintiff ordered to pay RM7,880,426.00 to defendant.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. application for challenging accountant report (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. plaintiff's grounds for application (Para 3 , 4 , 5) |
The application
By way of Summons in Chambers (in enclosure 31), the plaintiff make an application under Section 24A , Courts of Judicature Act 1964 and/ or Order 92, Rules of the High court 1980 for the following orders:
(1) UHY Advisory (KL) Sdn Bhd (UHY) dikehendaki menyerahkan sesalinan laporan yang telah disediakan dan difailkan oleh UHY berkenaan dengan fi pemasaran defendan (Laporan UHY) di mahkamah yang mulia ini kepada pihak plaintif dan defendan dalam tempoh masa tiga (3) hari dari tarikh perintah ini;
(2) Pihak-pihak plaintif dan defendan diberi kebebasan mengemukakan keterangan bagi tujuan mencabar dan/atau menjelaskan isi kandungan laporan UHY;
(3) UHY dikehendaki mengadakan satu taksiran mengikut kehendak Aturan 37, Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah Tinggi 1980 dan menyediakan satu laporan lanjut selepas taksiran tersebut;
(4) Secara alternatif kepada pohonan-pohonan (1), (2), (3) dan (4), mahkamah memerintahkan bahawa:
(i) Laporan UHY diketepikan; dan
(ii) UHY dikehendaki menyediakan satu laporan baru selepas mengadakan satu taksiran mengikut kehendak Aturan 37, Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah Tinggi 1980;
(5) Kos permohonan ini ditanggung oleh plaintif dan defendan; dan
(6) Relif selanjutnya atau relif lain sebagaimana mahkamah yang mulia ini anggap berpatutan.
The grounds of the application are as follows:
(a) Pihak plaintif tidak pernah diberikan sesalinan laporan UHY walaupun penemuan dalam laporan UHY mempunyai kesan langsung kepada hak dan kepentingan plaintif;
(b) Pihak plaintif tiada pengetahuan tentang cara serta dasar bagaimanakah pihak UHY telah mencapai penemuan plaintif berkenaan fi pemasaran di bawah Laporan UHY;
(c) Berdasarkan kepada rekod dan pengiraan plaintif, jumlah yang dimaklumkan semasa sebutan pada 4.10.2011 adalah jauh berlebihan;
(d) Pihak UHY, selaku akauntan yang dilantik oleh mahkamah untuk menjalankan satu taksiran mengikut seksyen 24A, Akta Mahkamah Kehakiman 1964, juga tidak pernah mengadakan apa-apa jua siasatan atau pun taksiran yang melibatkan pendengaran kesemua pihak. Ketinggalan prosedur tersebut mengakibatkan Laporan UHY tidak boleh diterima dan boleh diketepikan oleh Mahkamah yang mulia ini; dan
(e) Memandangkan bahawa Laporan UHY mempunyai kesan langsung terhadap plaintif, plaintif haruslah diberi peluang untuk meneliti isi kandungan laporan dan mengemukakan keterangan sewajarnya untuk mencabar dan/atau menjelaskan apa-apa ketakpastian dan kesalahan dalam penemuan UHY.
Background facts
The facts giving rise to this application are set out in the affidavit in support of the application affirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of the plaintiff, Mr Chan Feoi Chun on 14.10.2011 (enclosure 30).They are as follows. The plaintiff is a licensed timeshare operator. They sell timeshare membership known as Swiss Garden International Vacation Club (SGIVC). Pursuant to a Marketing Agreement dated 2.7.2001 entered into between the parties, the defendant was appointed as the plaintiffs sole and exclusive marketing agent to promote and sell SGIVC. The appointment is for five (5) years. Either party can terminate the agreement by giving 2 months prior notice. Under the agreement, the defendant is entitled to be paid 40% marketing fee for membership fees paid by the purchaser or 60% if membership fees are paid by installments.
Due to a drop in sales, the plaintiff failed to pay to the defendant their marketing fees for the month of May 2005 to Augu